Folding bracket for builders&#39; scaffolds.



- l. H. BURKHOLDER. FOLDING BRACKET FOR BUILDERS SCAFFOLDS.

APFLlCATION FILED .IAN. 2|, I916;

' Patented Aug. 28,1917.

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BY 7 3% W ATTORNEYS .l. H. BURKHOLD ER.

FOLDING BRACKET FOR BUILDERQSCAFFOLDS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 2|. 191s.

Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

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JOHN H. BURKHOLDER, OF ASHLAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELITE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF ASI-ILAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION.

Application filed January 21, 191 6.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JorrNIl. BURK- HOLDER, a citizen of'the United States, residing at Ashland, in the county of Ashland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful. Improvements in F olding Brackets for Builders" Scaffolds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists in an improvement in folding brackets for builders scaffolds.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the bracket attached to the side of a building and open as seen in Fig. 2, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig.2.

Fig. 4, sheet 2, is a perspectlve viewof the bracket, open in full lines and partially folded in dotted lines, as hereinafter more fully described. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the bracket folded. Fig. 6 is a cross section on line 6-6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged View of the locking connection between the main 'bar or arm and the upright support, and Fig. 8 is a section on line8-.8, Fig. 7

The bracket as thus shown is designed to be attached directly to the side of a building which is under course of construction or repair, and is adapted to be used'by carpen ters, painters, plasterers and others whose work calls them to the side of a building and who require a scaffold to work upon. To these ends, also, the bracket is constructed with a view to lightness in weight and conven ence in attachment, as well as to be folded when not in use, and with the especial objects of strength and safety.

To these several ends the invention consists essentially of the arm a, the upright support or post d, the two side braces Z) and the cross piece a. All these parts are plvotally and foldably related, and the only rigid connection in the structure is at 2 between post a? and cross piece 0. It will be noticed also that the said parts except bar 0 are shown as constructed of angle iron which affords the maximum of strength with the minimum of weight, and bar 0 might also be of angle iron if thought best. The ends of this bar are bent inward at right angles and have pivot connections 3 of the braces b therewith. The said braces extend from the ends of said bar forward and upward at an inclination into pivot Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2%, 191?. Serial No. 73,338.

connection at 4 with the forwardend portion of arm a, where they are bent for a short distance into parallel relations with the sides of said arm and a pivot rivet or the like makes a permanent and preferably inseparable connection for safety reasons.

The arm a is detachably connected with the upright member or post d by the means most clearly seen in Figs. 7 and 8, and comprising an L-shaped right angle extension 5, fixedly riveted to the side of arm a and adapted to project laterally through a slot 6 in post cl, the said extension 5 having an open slot .9 in its top edge which is engaged y a swinging latch or plate 8 pivoted on post d. The said latch is of the gravity type, as herein shown, and fills the slot .9 when closed, so that the arm a with its ex tension 5 cannot possibly be withdrawn nor become detached when the latch is closed. In addition to this, however, and to make security doubly sure, I provide the latch with a finger 9 which extends down below the slot 8 and prevents the latch from being pressed inward through the slot. It will be seen, also, that the outer edge of said latch is substantially flush with the outer surface or edge of post cl sothat when said post is erected on a wall the latch will be positively confined and cannot be re leased until the bracket is dismounted.

Features of the bracket are the key-hole slots 10 in post cl through which the bracket is engaged by means of heavy nails or spikes driven into the wall of the building, and a lip 12 on the outer extremity of arm a serves to confine boards or planks laid on said arm.

Especial attention is called to the fixed cross-piece c on the lower end of post (Z and its lateral extension therefrom at both sides to provide a spread base for the inclined braces b. This is intended to safeguard the bracket against possible collapse bybeing swung laterally to either side under pres sure and to insure not only an outward and upward but also a lateral bracing efl ect in both directions through the brace b. Notice that the bar 0 exposes a straight fiat surface to the wall, and it might also'have nail holes if preferred, but in point of fact this is not necessary when the post (Z is secured through its slots 10 and the weight of the scaffold is on the brackets. Obviously two the slot 8 in extension 5 on arm a engages h over the edge of said post, thus making a compact fold, Fig. 6.

structurally the arm a and its extension 5 are regarded as one piece.

What I claim is:

1. A scaffold bracket as described, having a single upright member constructed with a line of nail openings vertically therein and a stabilizing cross-bar aiiixed to the lower end thereof, a supporting arm connected with the upper end of said member, and a brace connected with each end of said cross-bar and with the outer end of said arm.

2. A foldable bracket for builders scaffolds consisting of an upright member having a series of key-hole slots therein, a crossbar rigidly fastened at its middle with the lower end of said member, a horizontally disposed supporting arm having an angular extension projecting through the said member and detachably locked therewith, and braces connecting the ends of said crossbar and the outer end of said arm.

3. A bracket as described, having an upright member havinga slot laterally through its upper portion, an arm having a right angled extremity extending through said slot and locked therein, a cross bar on said prising an upright member and a crossbar united-at its m ddle with the lower end thereof, a supporting arm detachably connected with the upper end of said member, and inclined braces having fixed pivot connection with the outer end of said arm and with the ends of said cross-bar, the said arm and the said upright member being foldable one upon the other between said arms.

, 6. A scaffold bracket having an upright bar provided with a series of key-hole slots, diverging braces united with the outer end of said bar, a cross-bar uniting the lower end of said bar with the braces, ajsupporting arm connecting the upper end of said upright bar and the braces and detachably' connected'with one of said Parts, and the braces being foldable upon said upright bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature l in presence of two witnesses. I

. JOHN H. BURKHOLDER.

Witnesses:

R. "B. MosnR, Gno. E. KRICKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Pate t I s Washington, D. c, p 

